Tragedy and fear-mongering

I can understand the nation’s outpouring of grief in response to last Wednesday’s tragic death of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo. Here was a defenseless man, a soldier shot and killed at his post, guarding the sacred Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

He seemed to be the type of guy you couldn’t help but admire — beloved by all, an enduring loyalty for his country, an ever-smiling human being who rescued unwanted animals.

The fact that he was seemingly such a fine human being made him a magnet for overwhelming sympathy and sadness in his death. It was like we lost a beloved big brother.

Fear also played a profound role in this country’s overwhelming response to the tragedy. It was as if the only way that the country could be somehow comforted, or make some sense of such a senseless act, was if it came together to not only lament the loss of a fellow countrymen, but to reconnect, lean on one another.

We’re constantly bombarded by endless and overwhelming threats: Ebola, terrorism, an economic collapse lurking at every corner ... the list goes on. Most of it, it appears, is far overblown. The hype escalates. People have had enough.

Claims have since been made that the gunman had terrorist ties, but as far as I can see, this was the work of a lone, very sick individual, who perhaps had some vague terrorist notions but essentially decided he would embark on a rampage alone.

I’ve resisted our Prime Minister’s suggestion that this was a terrorist act, an attempt, in my view, to instill even more fear into the populace. As if Canada is at risk of becoming a terrorist breeding ground. I don’t buy it.

This culture of fear that we live in is escalating and few offer a voice of reason or calm to any of it. That’s the unsettling part. When will it ever end? Your guess is as good as mine.

About the Author

Andrew Rankin is a former editor of the Guysborough Journal and reporter with Halifax Metro. With experience in politics and business to sports and entertainment reporting, Rankin likes to think he's curious and that everyone has a story to tell. With deep family roots in Cape Breton, he is excited about the possibilities that the Cape Breton Star offers and telling important stories that matter.